Pastor David Tieche :: 10.18.12

Holy: God’s *actual* words

Revelation: Information about God from God

Infallible : truly authoritative source about God

Authoritative : The Final Word on everything.

How Did We Get This

Old Testament

New Testament

Game of telephone

Old Texts are unreliable historically

Does the text from 100 A.D accurately represent the Hebrew text as originally composed?

Completed historically about 400BC

For a long time, the only copy we had of the Bible was that of monks from the Middle Ages.

Most recent copy was from 1200 A.D.

That’s a 1600 year gap. A lot can change in 1600 years.

Massoretic Text: 500-900 A.D.

Talmudists: 100-500 A.D.

Septuagint: Greek translation of OT 150-200 B.C.

Dead Sea Scrolls: 125 B.C (original Hebrew OT fragments.)

Canon by Committee: The Early Church omitted what it wanted and kept what it needed to retain power.

A bunch of guys sat down in a bar and made this whole thing up

Is this stuff in the NT true?

Did the Church play politics with content?

Is this stuff in the NT true?

Entire NT written by 90 A.D.

Within the lifetimes of eyewitnesses

Verifiable

Did the Church play politics?

Process of Canonization:

Did the author know Jesus?

Was the author an apostle and have apostolic authority?

Is what the author wrote consistent with the rest of Biblical tradition?

Is what the author wrote consistent with History?

Reading the Bible

The Bible as Science

The Bible as History

The Bible as Literature

Ways to view the Bible:

The Bible is responsible for more evil in the world than any other book.

The Bible can be interpreted in a million different ways.

The Inquisition

The Crusades

The Burning of Witches in England

Destructive Imperialism

The KKK

Gay-bashing

Dear Suzy

This is the most difficult letter I have ever had to write, but I have to write it.

You and I have been together for almost two years now, but these past few weeks have been the most difficult. In high school, our relationship was easy. We saw each other every day, ate lunch together every day, even sat next to each other in class.

But now that I am in college and we are in different cities, it’s becoming more and more difficult. I am here at Cal Poly, and you are in San Jose. It’s almost as though we have two different lives.

In addition, we are both at important stages of our lives. We have dreams, goals and futures to pursue.

I think we need to be apart, to not be tied to each other, so that we are fully free to pursue those dreams and goals.

If we always have our hearts and minds on someone three hours away, and are always thinking about something that might happen years down the road, it’s difficult to really focus on the here and now.

I think we might be accidentally sabotaging our future.

So although it’s painful, I think it’s best that we stop seeing each other. I know this is tough, but I think that it’s the wisest thing to do and will actually be best for us in the long run.

I’ll always love you,Jeff

p.s. I’m mailing you your class ring back.

What is Jeff trying to say…

A. Asking Suzy out on a date

B. Working hard to save a rocky relationship

C. Breaking up with Suzy

D. Taking the relationship to the next level

E. Asking Suzy if she has the same romantic feelings as he does

What is Jeff trying to say…

A. Asking Suzy out on a date

B. Working hard to save a rocky relationship

C. Breaking up with Suzy

D. Taking the relationship to the next level

E. Asking Suzy if she has the same romantic feelings as he does

So how do you read it?

First, read carefully

The Bible might not be saying what you think it’s saying

e.g. Polygamy

Do you take the Bible literally?

Have you stopped beating your wife?

Different forms of literature

Be honest to the text

Second, examine your expectations

What do you expect from God?

Do you expect no conflicts?

Stepford Wives story…

A beginner’s look at Bible study

Start with the peaks

The Gospels

Genesis, Judges, Kings, Chronicles

Get help

Reasons to Read the Bible

• Meaning

• Answers

• Purpose

• A God worth worshipping

Jesus’ Miracles

Jesus; Teachings

Some OT prophecies…

Seed of a woman.Born of virgin.Son of GodSeed of AbrahamSeed of IsaacHouse of DavidBorn at BethlehemBe a prophet.Be a priest.Be a King.Be a judge.Preceeded by a

Messenger.Rejected by his own

people.Have his side pierced.

CrucifiedFrom the Tribe of JudahWorshipped by

ShepherdsSpeak in parablesBetrayed for 30 pieces of

silverFalse witnesses betray

himBeaten and torturedPierced hands and feetNo bones broken in

deathBuried with the richPeople everywhere will

believe he is the Messiah

History Impact

History Impact

History Impact

Human Human-ness Hospitals Universities Science Literature Art Revolutions (slavery, women’s rights,

Civil Rights)

Resurrection

Global Sameness

Why Isn’t Everyone?

People don’t always do what’s best for them People don’t always listen to what’s true

Back to Jeff + Suzy

Don’t Be a Suzy

Your heart might be rebellious

Your heart might be ready

Your heart might be hurt, and need rest

Your heart might be leaping inside you right now because you know this is it.